Nine of the 12 drivers still competing in the championship Chase ranked in the top-10 in the practice session. There were two notable absences – last week’s race winner, Kevin Harvick, was 26th-fastest and Jeff Gordon was 32nd fastest.

When it came to five and 10-lap averages, Jimmie Johnson – who was eliminated from championship contention last week at Dover, Del. – led the way. Johnson has seven career wins at Charlotte, including three in the track’s fall race.

Johnson, Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt posted the fastest five-lap averages while Johnson, Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch were the top three in 10-lap average speed.

Practices are a difficult judge of race performance this weekend as most of the practice time available takes place during the day while the race itself takes place at night under the lights.